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Race:: Lexophiles :: Lovers of words.

History:: 300 years ago, they freed the Vicar from the Auroks...

Native Name(s):: Lexophiles

Personality:: Lovers of words, the Lexophiles use language to their advantage and are highly manipulative. Lexophiles are incredibly neat and clean and for this reason
they have very sophisticated medicinal herbs and beautiful garments that protect the skin. They often mirror the temperment of the sea; calm one instant, violently
angry the next... they quite often hold grudges. They love the sea, and use it to their advantage; it is the hub of their existence. They value beauty in all its forms and
attempt to surround themselves with simple earthy pleasures as well as sophisticated elegant devices and items.

Physical/Supernatural:: Either a ghostly pallor, or deep ebony skin tone. Tall, slender and waif-like. Hair colors tend to be darker in color, though there are a few blondes.
Eyes are always some variation of green or blue, never brown. There are also small gill like structures directly behind and slightly below the ears. These only operate under
water and allow them to breathe both oxygen and H2O. While Lexophiles are underwater their physiology changes and once fully submerged they will innately adapt to the water. Lexophiles have added
eyelids that allow them to see while swimming underwater, as well as webbed skin between fingers and toes that retract when out of the water. Men tend to be slightly broader than women, but close to
the same size. Very little sexual dimorphism. Water breathing. Very agile and graceful. Extremely manipulative, their language is whispery and beautiful and almost magical in its ability to
capture the attention of others. They have somewhat psychic or clairvoyant abilities and are brilliant navigators of the sea and fishermen. Lexophiles appear to have
control over the sea because of their uncanny ability to predict and understand the weather, tides and the cycles of the moon. They also depend heavily on the stars and
astronomy.

Clothing:: Most fabrics are single colors, often blues, whites, greens, greys, blacks, and crème colors. They prefer light silky material to keep them cool in the sunlight,
though they also like their garments to cover the majority of their bodies to preserve their natural skin tone. When patterns are implemented, the Lexophiles like to use
light stitch work in spiraling, vine-like designs that are simple and elegant. Shoes are either not worn at all (on beaches) or they prefer light, soft, leather boots and shoes.
Men wear thicker materials in trouser cuts that tie in the forefront and shirts with 3/4 sleeves that button so they may be easily dried or removed when fishing. Because
of this men tend to also be more tan then women.

Region:: Near the sea, sometimes spreading towards woods and meadows where foods can be grown. Largest cities are located on The Harbor, The Cape and near River Deltas to allow for better farming
and irrigation.

Cuisine:: Vastly made up of seafood, they also eat a large variety of vegetables and grains, breads and clear broths, they love Crème brûlée and light cool cuisine. Fruits
are also highly prized. Dishes are often creamy and have subtle rich flavors. Curry is often used for stronger flavors as well as other subtle spices. Vanilla extract, sweets, apple cider and teas. Due to the
large amount of herbs that Lexophiles have access to, they often blend many interesting teas and potions, as well as using the herbs for spices in cooking.

Resources:: The sea, large knowledge of machines and weaponry. The rich, fertile soils of the delta, agriculture. Medicine. Astronomy. Lexophiles rarely mine, but they managed to refine glass
blowing a crafting using the sand from their vast beaches. Lexophiles were first to develop international trade routes, as well as vast trade routes in Endune.

Professions (Army/citizens):: Fishermen, Farmers, Priestess/Priest, Merchants, Tailors etc. Military is highly trained, divided into ranked regiments that use
Specific weapons. Lexophiles are incredible warriors when in platoons or military units, but if divided and put against multiples foes they become fairly defeat-able. Lexophiles are fairly delicate and
were not made for hand to hand or close combat; they often prefer sniping enemies from their ships, or fighting naval battles where they have a HUGE advantage due to their incredible abilities
surrounding water and swimming.

Weapons:: Guns (vintage pistols and flintlock muskets) Long Bows, Staffs, Staves, Spears, Tridents, Daggers and Swords. Lexophiles choose one main weapon which they train to become experts in,
during times of peace they are able to master more than one, but should war break out they cannot devote as much time to training, therefore if a Lexophile is separated from his or her weapon then all
they have to rely on is their supernatural abilities.


Pets (mounts):: Domesticated Cats and some horses, though they prefer to travel by foot or ship.


Religion:: Earth based and utterly egalitarian. Very similar to modern neo-paganism and Wicca. Sabbats and Esbats are celebrated surrounding the cycles of the moon, as well as holidays that
honor the sea. Lexophiles believe in a God and Goddess figure that surround and partake in everything in the universe. Their energy is the energy of everything, therefore they are apart of everything.
Lexophiles revere the unity of everything under the universe and view the oceans as something similar to the dreamlike ‘otherworld’ where the God and Goddess dwell. Because of their ties to the ocean,
they have built all of their sacred sites underwater in secret locations. Part of a Lexophile right of passage is to travel to these sacred sights and take part in intricate underwater rituals that are highly
secretive and are never divulged to strangers or those outside of the Lexophiles race. They do not view themselves to be favored above others by their God and Goddess, they simply view themselves as
secret keepers who practice in the traditions of the ‘old ways.’ Ironically, considering their attraction to water, most Sabbats and Esbats quite heavily incorporate fire and fire symbolism. Huge
bonfires are lit on the shore to light the path for lost souls to find their way to the ocean, or to reflect on the water for the God and Goddess.

Culture:: One based around the sea, highly sophisticated, they are masters of the spoken word and literature, also singing. Innovative chefs, creative architecture (tree
Dwellings as well as caves). Craftsmen and purveyors of food and treasures from the sea.

Sciences/inventions:: Sailing, navigation, guns, machinery, medicine, farming/agriculture and astronomy. Herbalism figures predominantly into Lexophile sciences as well as other technical
advancements.

Languages:: Masters of all language

City description:: Mostly on the coast with large white, glittering expanses of beautiful architecture in larger cities on harbors. Smaller hamlets compose the area
surrounding river deltas for farming. Buildings vary from being quite tall, to extending deep into the ground to join with underground caves that join the ocean. Lexophiles are extremely clean and
tidy and view bathing as a sacred act of ritual purification. Because of this they often build large lavish spa like pools inside individual bedrooms for every single Lexophile. Bedrooms are private
spaces and NO ONE is to enter unless invited or if a marriage takes place, in which case the couple may choose to share a room and bath, or to remain separate, only having time together in another
room in the household. The city of Demesne meaning “possession of land as one's own” is the where the Lexophiles originated. Being their oldest home, some of its architecture is the most beautiful. The
city is built in the ground, in a giant cave that you have to dive into water to get to. Being that Lexophiles are amphibians they can naturally get to this city. Here is where their most sacred places,
where many come for religious purposes. There is another entrance made on top of the island in the form of a giant hole with hundreds of steps. It goes deep into the ground until
it joins Demesne. This is the only way someone who can’t breathe underwater can get to Demesne. There is also a giant gate made of metal that allows Demesne to easily be fortified and guarded. The
city of Erstwhile meaning ‘At one time, for a time’. is their most populated and prosperous city, flourishing in resources, this is the harbor city, the city where the Lexophiles fought during the time of
war. The city of Erstwhile is made up of Harbors and wood structures. The land mass before the Lexophiles arrived was a large circular cliff rising hundreds of feet before dropping into the ocean below.
The Lexophiles built their city from the bottom up and have many levels before reaching the top, and jutting out from the cliff rock. It is the most beautiful city in a complicated design architecturally.
Here is where you will find the most striking example of Lexophiles ingenuity, such as their aqueducts, and common, everyday life for Lexophile citizens. First there are fisherman and large boats that
dock all around the harbor. Some of these boats conduct their business on the boat its self and allow costumers to board the ship in order to buy. They have one stretch of harbor that is where the ‘Market’
boats arrive and where most of the food is brought and prepared. The Lexophiles are very clean people, and when they bring their fish out to fillet they made at the bottom of the harbor, a long stone floor
under the water, with the water being just above ankle level. Here they chop off the heads and fillet the fish, using the water on the rocks to wash away the blood and guts. When the Lexophiles did this,
they attracted many predators of the sea, however Lexophiles being amphibious and armed with a variety of weapons were not afraid of all the sharks that swam in their waters, but used the blood as bait
for the sharks. One sea predator though revolutionized the Lexophiles when it appeared in large numbers and became a habitant of the harbor. It was a type of carnivore that had a metal like scales along
its back that not even bullets could puncture. The Lexophiles would dive in after this creature with spears to combat it, targeting its soft underbelly, as this was the creatures only weakness. Once the
creature was dead they would take it onto the platforms, and skin off the hard scales, clean it, then make it into a light bendable armor. This armor works like chain mail and is so light and hard that
its become the Lexophiles best source of protection. Erstwhile has potted herbs and plants everywhere growing off the harbor walls and looks like a wooden floral paradise. The last city is the newest and
least populated. Halcyon, meaning “tranquil and free from disturbance or care,” really is best described in its name. It’s a quieter place and more humble. It’s built on a delta and because of this the
Halcyon people are nicknamed the ‘river people.’ Not much else can be said about Halcyon other than its large numbers of farms and hospitable people. The Lexophiles homes are beautiful places.
Lexophiles having aqueducts have made it to where every bedroom, has a large tub, or small pool like area. It takes up most of the flooring, and its very deep. This is where the Lexophile bathes, and
anytime a Lexophile enters their bed room they will most likely bathe first thing, as to not soil anything.

Law:: Trial by Jury, however, juries are often not concerned with 'provability' but rather with how well a person can argue his or her case based on rhetorical skills. Lawyers
do not exist. Punishments vary by crime, with petty or civil offenses having minor punishments and larger, more heinous crimes like murder being punished very
harshly.


RACE ABILITIES
Racial traits
• +2 diplomacy, speak language, bluff, Knowledge .
• Lexophile tongue: 10% chance to command. 20% chance to dominate.
• Doesn’t have to have swim.
• Low light vision